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Monday, December 31, 2012

J and I sit here in a conference room at the Brian Head Town Hall taking advantage of their free WiFi and to get out of the packed car. He's at the end of his cold and didn't feel like snowboarding with his brother and dad, so he's stuck with me!

We left Duck Creek this morning and the guys had a day of snowboarding planned. I had planned on a leisurely afternoon grading papers, entering grades online, and possibly curling up with a book somewhere. (No skiing for me. I'm babying my knees these days.)

The people here in Brian Head are super friendly and nice to allow us use of their conference room. (On New Year's Eve the Town Hall is hardly a bustling place.) I was able to spread papers out all over the conference table instead of my dashboard.

It's not how I expected to spend the last afternoon of 2012, but I'm glad J's with me. He's a good kid, even if he won't let me take pictures of him. I usually have to sneak them.

Brian Head itself is a gorgeous area, all season long. They have good food, lots of lifts, and even a tubing run! It's changed a lot since I last skied here in 1991. (Sad, I know.)

Sunday, December 30, 2012

This is one view of my walk in the snow today. For fun I marched along my summer jogging route. It usually takes me about 30-35 minutes to jog it in the summer. Today walking in compact snow, it took me about 50 minutes. (Not that I was complaining. It was GORGEOUS!)

Living in an older part of Vegas, I'm surrounded by homes, concrete, and pavement. I love looking towards the mountains in the east, where the temple is, and in the west, where there is a snow cap in the winter, but I miss living closer to the mountains like I did in Provo and Salt Lake. This is why coming to Duck Creek, one of my favorite places on earth, is home to me.

On my walk today I recommitted myself to finding beauty wherever I am. I also drank in the scene around me. I took a picture (literally) to post here and send to my mom (she couldn't make it up here), but also to keep in my mind for those days when I've had enough of the city. It's something I've done since I was a kid. Those scenes and memories have kept me going when my spirit was low.

Below is a small cabin on the edge of the forest service land. It's tiny, but darling, and it's backyard is forest service land for miles. Steve and I hold a dream of owning it someday. We'll see. Owning any cabin (or piece of property up here) would be a dream fulfilled!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

So my goal of blogging every day of my Winter Break crashed and burned yesterday. We were running errands and putting out fires from morning 'til night. I literally laid down in bed at about 11:30 last night. I was so dang tired! I thought about blogging, but just couldn't get motivated.

Part of WHY I was tired has to do with the pictures posted today. We were getting ready for a winter visit to the cabin at Duck Creek, Utah. It was in the low 20's when we got here, but gorgeous. We are enjoying every minute and are lucky enough to have my brother Truman and his lovely wife, Megan, with us. From our Winter Wonderland to wherever you are---hope you have a great Saturday!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

I'm blogging more often because a) it's Winter Break and I have time and b) I have a new laptop!

The picture above is my new baby. I love it! I needed a new laptop for classes I take for my post-Masters (only 10 more credits to go before I max out at Masters + 32 credits), but also to show church videos to the Young Women in my Laurel class. (My hubby got tired of me dragging his laptop to church every week.) Now I can drag my own laptop and blog whenever I want to! Yes!!!

You can probably tell it's sitting on my bed on my lap desk. I do my best thinking (and hopefully best writing) sitting here. Thought I'd give a realistic view of it.

I challenged myself to blog something EVERY DAY of Winter Break. I feel rusty and out of shape writing. It's been a LONG time since I've blogged or even written anything for fun on a regular basis.

Today I don't have anything profound to blog about, but my sister and her family is in town, RC Willey messed up on our dishwasher order, and I've been eating too much chocolate. Besides that---I have a new laptop! :o)

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I'm not a huge winter/snow fan, but I love Christmas. From December 1st through Christmas Day, my radio is tuned into the "all Christmas songs" station. I sing, I hum, and I belt out Christmas tunes like a pro. Well, maybe not a PRO-pro, but I try.

I'm always a little sad the day after Christmas.

The presents have been opened.

The Christmas feast eaten.

Time with family is over and most people go back to work.

The radio station goes back to their top hits from the 80's and 90's.

But a tiny piece of Christmas magic still lingers in my heart. I can't wait until NEXT Christmas!

What will have happened in a year? How will things be? What fun presents will I find for my hubby and the boys?

I think back to all of my favorite Christmases and add yesterday's to my list.

We were relatively healthy. (Poor J.)

We were with family.

We were able to give our boys presents that they asked for.

We gave service and gifts to others. (The surprise ones were my favorite.)

We read about Jesus' birth from Luke.

We read President Monson's Christmas article and chose what gifts we would give the Savior and others this year. (A great tradition I hope we carry on.)

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

We got to play, talk, eat, visit, and spend time with our family today. It was one of the best days of 2012! I love spending time with my hubby and boys and my big, crazy family. Just wish J felt better.

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Merry Christmas! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. He came to earth to teach us and to save us. I can't imagine how his parents felt holding him the night he was born. They must have been amazed and overwhelmed of Him and the responsibilities that lay ahead of them. I am also grateful to our Heavenly Father, who allowed His Son to come to earth and to die for our sins. He trusted Jesus Christ to do the right thing. We are so blessed that he did.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

I may not be wealthy by the world's standards, but according to God's standards, I am one of the wealthiest women on earth. I have so many blessings to be thankful for.

I was born into a loving family, with good parents. They not only provided me with food, clothing, education, and shelter, they did everything they could to teach me right from wrong. They supported me in my interests and taught me about Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

I cherish my education. To my family, education was a crucial part of our personal growth. We read, wrote, learned, attended college, and in my case, continue to. I am so grateful for my education. It has made me a better person inside and out.

My friends are kind and patient with me. Some are old and some are new. I have learned so much from them and enjoy sharing my ups and downs with them.

I was told having a baby was nearly impossible for me, but was blessed to bear one amazing son, my gift from God, J. J is wiser than his years. (Don't tell him that.) He is more than I could ever hope for in a son and I look forward to watching his future successes.

Heavenly Father also sent a wonderful man late into my life to be my husband, partner, and friend, Steven J. Terry. He makes me laugh and is the best kisser on the planet! ;o) He's also a wonderful priesthood holder and father.

Steve brought with him a son I didn't bear, but call my son, D. D has taught me more about myself than he will ever realize. He has so much to be thankful for if he could just see it. I am grateful that he is part of our family.

I have a rewarding job that allows me to help, teach, and guide others. I know this responsibility is a gift from God who also blessed me with talents to be able accomplish this work. (Some days better than others.)

My calling in the Young Women's program brings me joy every week as I teach them about God and Jesus Christ. These girls are future leaders and mothers. I look forward to seeing their lives as women in the gospel.

My house may be small, my paycheck even smaller, but as you can see, I am very blessed.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

The youth in our ward sang carols at several "old folks" homes last week for a service activity to celebrate Christmas. The kids were hyper and happy. They had only one more day until Winter Break. The adults were tired and subdued; it was the end of a long week, but we were glad to be part of giving service to those who need it dearly.

Our son, D, asked how singing could be a service to someone. I explained to him that some people live in retirement centers and rarely have visitors. They are older and may be sick or their friends and family may not visit enough, so having new faces come in to sing brightens their day. He seemed content with that.

As we sang I felt peace. Those we sang for were glad to have us. Some sang along or clapped. Others smiled and their eyes lit up. We received hugs, handshakes, candy, and positive comments. We were doing God's work and I could feel the love He has for each of His children---old and young. He knows us and sees us and loves us!

(Me, Grandma Thacke, my Mom in summer of 2009. Gran died in early 2010 from cancer.)

I also missed being around my Grandma Mildred Thacke. There's nothing like Christmas to remind us of those we have lost. Gran was a pistol---funny as can be and quick to have an opinion on EVERYTHING. (My hubby tells me that I remind him of her. I don't think I'm half as funny though. Just opinionated.)

I miss hearing about her life. I miss being able to ask her questions about the Great Depression, World War II, and Vegas in the early days. For a moment I forgot I would see her again. I panicked, but the panic was quickly replaced with peace again.

That peace is the knowledge that God sent His son, Jesus Christ to earth to live, die, and be resurrected for our sins. We will live on in spirit after our earthly death. We will be resurrected and our families will live together forever. Jesus ensured this for us. Our brother Jesus' life began in a humble stable and is celebrated by us as Christmas in December. Christmas is a holiday to celebrate His life.

I am so grateful for this poignant moment I experienced in a rest home just days before Christmas this year. It was a beautiful way for me to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.﻿